Jack DeFuria '15

When Jack DeFuria ’15 first visited Xavier, he knew it was the high school for him—so much so that the possibility of a three-hour daily commute left him unfazed.

Now a senior, the Rockville Centre, Long Island native has built a home away from home on 16th Street. His passion for Xavier inspired him to become involved in a variety of student initiatives, including Student Council, the Xavier Review, the Senior Gift Committee, and the Entrepreneurial Society, which he co-founded last year.

DeFuria’s career interests lie in finance and technology, two subjects in which he gained an interest at Xavier. While serving as a student representative to the Board of Trustees, he developed strong relationships with alumni, including chairman John C. Meditz ’66, whom DeFuria identifies as an influential mentor. The summer after his freshman year, DeFuria gained hands-on business experience when he interned at Tradeweb Markets LLC, a world leader in building and marketing electronic over-the-counter marketplaces, and last summer, he became one of the youngest interns at Hilliard Farber, a technology trading company recently purchased by Tradeweb. DeFuria brought the business knowledge he gained in the field to the 100-member Entrepreneurial Society, for which he now serves as president. The club has grown considerably since he co-founded it last year, with 50 students consistently attending meetings and 50 more receiving regular member emails.

“I wanted to leave a lasting impact at Xavier by creating a lasting club,” DeFuria said.

While DeFuria’s career interests lie in business, his favorite experiences at Xavier have centered around service. He traveled on CFX trips to Tennessee after his sophomore year and to Camden during his junior year, taking him out of his comfort zone—and encouraging him to be a man for others.

This fall, DeFuria will enroll at The George Washington University School of Business in Washington, D.C., where he plans to major in finance (with a possible course of study in political science as well). DeFuria said choosing a college ended up being similar to selecting a high school. He went on many college tours, but when he saw the GW campus, he knew it was the place for him—just like his home on 16th Street, where he plans to return often in the coming years.

“Xavier gave me a lot,” DeFuria said. “I’d love to be involved and give back to Xavier as an alum.”